Battle Plans
i waited in the queue
my faith in santa renewed
hopping up and down
glad i came to town
i can see him now
this will be my cash cow
the list in my hand
oh the things i planned
I asked for roller skates
and got pancakes
the bicycle is no more
i fell to the floor
next year wait until
i will go in for the kill
there is hope still
for i am no daffodil

31

Framed
the friendly seahorse jake
arrived at my house at daybreak
wanting to survive the sale
but alias to no avail
the show has been set
tethered to wall as a pet
separated from his mate
her name is happy kate
a sad ending for a noble beast
he will be sold to the northeast
never to see his love
attached to a wall not his dove

30

Talent
little alice with great big eyes
making santa in disguise
a pumpkin that volunteered
forced to tout glasses and beard
a grade most high she will make
mom will celebrate with chocolate cake
the effort shared we appreciate
a centerpiece most ornate

Her first ever class project

29

Always
I want little of life
just a good wife
all else is nothing
just need the hugging
she gets up grouchy
i arise most rowdy
a union of rifts
the heaven of gifts

28

Dry Goods
four in the morning
everyone in the house snoring
the stores are not yet open
for his task must be unspoken
the friends will soon arrive
tired out from their long drive
smitty prepares the shopping list
something which he cannot resist
i have the doors bolted and locked
teri has put his car up on blocks
for another run for supplies
will bring tears to our eyes
a mission to stop smitty from escaping
his raid for groceries most amazing
we love the food don't get us wrong
it is just the shelves are not that strong

brother in-law is shopping again...

27

Edith
sister of mother
aunt to my brother
i like her gentle kindness
she is one of gods finest
i love her blackbird story
which she tells with such glory
baby chicks tied to the clothesline
flapping wings in the sun shine
she was but four years old
as told she was good as gold
for my mother the instigator
she but a spectator
five girls growing up on a farm
protected by father from harm
he would wrap them all in bed attire
and carry them all near the fire
grandma's kolaches great
prune and apricot we ate
aunt edith repeats the treat
which are oh so sweet
fishing stories of uncle pete
had me on the edge of my seat
the fishing had been ghastly
having to eat mullet most nasty
it was always great fun
with cousins to shoot, fish, and run
the visits always ended
with memories most splendid

Aunt Edith's birthday poem, late

26

Kathy Wakes
slip into the night
footsteps in starlight
the dream was real
true as it could feel
she wakes to a soft hand
pulling her back to land
it was nice in the sky
the view as birds fly
she goes back to sleep
into a slumber so deep
to dream again of flight
the whole twilight

for a friend not feeling twinkly, I hope she feels better (A
quiet poem on flying)

25

The Response
cyrus quickly replies
with murder in his eyes
a critique of my pains
he wants me in chains

Day Two
i can count the days on two fingers
what are fingers, and what are two
i want my mommy
to pat my tummy
i sleep now

22

Day One
i was disconnected
this was not expected
from a place so warm
and so i was born
i do not have a name
but i do proclaim
to mommy and daddy
i am your little laddie

nephew's son was born today, karate kid -- poem 11

21

Day of silence
bethany's birthday is most quiet
she wishes to avoid the riot
for the day is here
so have no fear
we will not say the count
for there is a great amount
she comes out of her retreat
for she is so wonderful and sweet
she holds the age quite well
just as a pearl that eludes the shell
the woman who is a friend to all
and is the darling of the ball
birthday wishes we offer most readily
with hands on paper most steadily
remember friends really do care
for the one who has such flare
make noise quite loud
so we can all be proud
for we will celebrate the day
miss bethany turns four-tay

After reading Shelley's To a Skylark.
I do like Shelley. His poems have nothing to do with this poem, it just got me thinking...

Alliteration and Imagery,

"Once upon a midnight dreary while I pondered weak and weary" - Poe (Alliteration)"I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud" - Wordsworth (Imagery)

it can be over done. I wanted to try something else... a poem with none, no
hidden meaning or twists of words, and yet a poem. I'm not good at it so
maybe this is not even a poem, or maybe... I am so good that I wrote a poem that is
not a poem. But Imagery and Alliteration, most poems seem to over do it. How
are the good one's done? I don't know, less is probably better.

"Clify nifty says be thrifty, to make rhymes shine like dimes"

19

A Week of Weak
hurt, pain, needles and nurses
thank god no heavenly verses
the surgery when well
but oh what a smell
i wanted to run
before they were done
but the door was locked
and me in my socks
i did become religious
might just be litigious
i do love the pills
for temporary thrills

daughter had minor surgery, with love clif

18

Adeline
the farm near the river
i so well remember
a place full of trees
we climbed with such ease
the cousins danced and sang
aunt adeline headed the gang
the hokey-pokey was the one
always a home run
uncle gene was always able
to show the children his stable
horses, fun and strudel
always the whole caboodle
god parents most kind
a nice frame of mind
for family is the sail
that helps along the trail

for my aunt

17

Peggy's World
a time to relax
play time to the max
the shadows of work have faded
the hills are now invaded
the guests sit by the pool
no thoughts of school
dreaming of life
and time with the wife
they walk along the creek
holding hands and dare not speak
for the holiday has been great
it is getting quite late
peggy has created the place
with love out of lace and grace
it is hard for the guests to leave
a haven so well conceived

sister-in-law has weekend retreats in Wimberley, Texas

16

Kathy
a friend most kind
i have on my mind
is oh so sweet
i wish you to meet
the child is gone
danny on the lawn
deer at her feet
it is so neat
christine is perfection
a vision for my refection
a family so kind
to keep me in mind
the years have gone
i lay on my lawn
thinking of the past
wishing they would last

15

You deserve better
a word said
came out and spread
it makes me red
for what was bled
in my head
there is much to dread
i lay in bed
and feel like lead

14

Fierce Battle
hunting is the name
deer is the game
i sit for hours
looking at flowers
a sound i hear
it is very near
i envision a buck
but no such luck
it is but a sparrow
i adjust my sombrero
he looks quite mean
and is very lean
so i lower my gun
for the day is done
i prepare the stories
of all my glories

i'm going hunting

13

The Noisy Christmas
elves in my yard
all with green cards
singing all night long
i hate christmas songs
through the door
pajamas i wore
i plead for peace
to have the noise cease
the elf's high chief
offers me relief
by singing and dancing
without me asking
the reindeer put on a show
dancing in the snow
the elves join in
i relent with a grin
vey! quickly instead
a letter i draft
of all my wishes
for more christmas riches
the elves are now gone
it is nearly dawn
surrounded by my toys
i smile with much joy

12

Raining sounds outside
sea birds fly silently by
Jessica sleeping

nephew in Japan, his birthday haiku. Jessica was 4 months old

11

Karate Kid
there was a home
in a sea of foam
for baby is cooking
and so good-looking
so sing to him
and dance your whim
the time is near
so smile with cheer
be kind to the boy
for he gives such joy
for never will he chop
someone in the throat...

nephew said he would only teach his expectant boy karate, to kill someone by chopping them in the throat...

10

Polar Bear of age
A much loved animal
a creature most casual
a birthday is upon him
he's out for a swim
the seals do worry
he's now in the slurry
approaching most shy
with love in his eye
the boy that is a bear
has combed his hair
wishing for a date
is now on his plate

TooToo's Birthday
onto the wind
to which we send
happy birthday tunes
with flowers and balloons
the fishes and birds
have heard the word
that cartwheels in the sand
are much in demand
booboo has struck
and has gone amuck
a poem did write
for your delight

younger sister's birthday poem, every year on her birthday she take a
picture of herself doing a cartwheel, I am booboo

8

Seventy more
it's never too late
so pick up your gate
seventy might seem great
but never to your mate
The children are grown
and have their own
a teacher by trade
a home you made
the friends are there
parading on the square
marching to a beat
you in the front seat
a birthday is to celebrate
a time to demonstrate
the fulfillment of living
with thoughts of giving
"yes I want more presents"

older Sister's birthday poem

7

Grandma's Baby
A baby came into the world
like a flower which unfurled
a person named Nelly Jane
into a home which she would reign
it will be up to grandma
without any drama
to spoil the child as her right
with candy, drums, and a kite

6

Shirt Poor
I was once shirt poor
a lady came and I am no more
she continues to be kind
so now I must decline
for I have no space
in which to embrace
the true and honest generosity
offered with such ferocity
I am truly thankful
for now shirts are ample
I wish proudly to convey
the shirts are now on display

To a friend for sending me a lot of shirts

5

Smile
penguin toes is celebrating
a birthday in which she is negating
my vision of a child
expert in great big smiles
what is this? she still sings songs
lasting all year long
with a smile on her face
for all to embrace

tick-tock Jennifer
the evening came late
it was half past eight.
tick-tock jennifer a beautiful soul,
of my charge, it was my goal
to keep her on time
especially in her prime
tick-tock jennifer now forty-seven
I am in heaven, and built a shrine
for tick-tock jennifer was now on time

Daughter's birthday poem.. as you can guess

3

Hallelujah
A friend from down under "aw-soop"
got turned around
up near the ground
was so profound
as to resound
hallelujah! my name is now poos-wa

"Poos-wa is the name I call friends (which is everyone)..., picked this up from a Marine buddy
in 1974, I have no idea what it means"

2

Elephant McDuff
With great big feet
and mighty ears,
elephant McDuff I wish you to meet
He has no home
but he has no need
for he is my friend, so we let him be
he dances by day
and sleeps at night
for me a joy to watch him play
so take care of him
when I'm not around
my dear friend elephant McDuff

My first try

1

The Birthday Bride
about the bride
the one I pride
she had my heart
from the very start
the moment she was born
it as all trumpets and horns
to celebrate the day
for all to play
she holds her head high
to look you in the eye
it is the truth she speaks
which gives me the creeps
the smile is honey
the laughter most funny
I honor the ground
on where she is found
she is all a flutter
so I must not utter
her birthday wishes
are for more kisses
what was to be a surprise
will be my demise
a birthday chore
so i was out the door
to find what she desires
a frying pan she admires
I failed in my quest
I did my best
the pan is missing
so i give more kissing
some dancing was requested
but i got arrested
the dance was for her
i stood at the door
not a stitch was worn
as when i was born
the law understands
the trouble i will land
if her present is not right
it must be tonight
cozy is the jail
i hope to make bail
the heart does warm
so i weather the storm
if she has a birthday most kind
with me on her mind
then my time does learn
how her happiness to earn
not with things and critters
to make her glitter
but a birthday of joy
from her little cowboy